أبا حسنٍ صِلْ حاجتي بوصالها

وإلا فدعْ لي صفحتي بِصقالِها

O Abu Hassan, fulfill my need through her company,

Or else, leave me to polish my sword with her.

بدأتَ بمعروفٍ فثنّ بمثلِه

حميداً وأطلقْ حاجتي من عقالِها

You began with kindness, so match it with the like,

With praise, and release my need from her reins.

وإلا فأعتِق طامعاً من مَطامعٍ

يروح ويغدو عانياً في حبالِها

Or else, set free an ambitious man from ambitions,

Who comes and goes suffering in her ropes.

بذلتُ لك التقريظَ غيرَ مماطلٍ

فلا تبلُني في حاجتي بمطالِها

I have given you sincere praise without procrastination,

So do not fail me regarding my need with delays.

فعنديَ بذلُ الشكر عندَ قضائها

وعنديَ بذل العذر عند اعتلالِها

For I give thanks when it is fulfilled,

And I give excuses when it is hindered.

متى تكسُني من حاجتي ثوب نفعِها

فأنت الفتى المكسوُّ ثوبَ جمالِها

When will you clothe me with the garment of its benefit,

For you are the young man clothed in the gown of her beauty.

جرت سننٌ للفاعلين ذوي العلا

وأنت حقيق يا ابنهم بامتثالِها

Ways have continued for the eminent ones among them,

And you, O son, are truthful in following them.

فجدْ لي بوجهٍ صونُه في ابتذاله

وكم من وجوه صونها في ابتذالِها

So strive for me with a face whose dignity is preserved in its abasement,

And how many faces had their dignity preserved in their abasement!

وما من علاءٍ في يدٍ عند ملكها

ولكنه لا شكّ عند فعالِها

No eminent person has anything in the hand of its possessor,

But undoubtedly, it is in the hands of its Doer.

فعجّل ولا تمطلْ بما أنت أهلُه

فخيرات أفعال الفتى في عِجالِها

So hurry and do not delay with what you are suited for,

For the best deeds of a young man are in his hastening.

وما للرجال المخلفين عداتِهم

من الفَعِلات الزُّهْر غير انتحالِها

And the warriors have nothing but their braces,

Of deeds whose flowers are not but their gathering.